Chapter 125: Earth-Shattering Might

(So much writing, only to realize there was a problem with the chapter... Frustrating. It took me a long time to ask and find out how to fix it. My apologies for the late update!)

"What do we do?!" Yue Qi panicked. For the first time, he felt a profound sense of helplessness. Even when he was being chased by that leader-class zombie back then, he hadn't felt this way, because that zombie hadn't truly wanted to kill them.

"I don't even know if there's a defensive city array. What are we going to do? Are we just going to stand here and wait for death?" Yue Qi asked Qin Luo anxiously. Beside them, Xue Hong clearly sensed that something was wrong with him.

"What's wrong, Brother Yue?" Xue Hong's eyes were still somewhat puffy, a lingering effect of having just cried.

"It's hopeless. Fengzhou City is hopeless..." Yue Qi only shook his head slightly, saying nothing more. He knew that no matter how much he said now, it would be useless, because they had no way to save themselves.

"How is that possible? Brother Yue, look, aren't we holding them off just fine? And even if more zombies come from behind, there's no need to fear. The resources in Fengzhou City are abundant; we won't run out anytime soon!" Upon hearing Yue Qi's words, Xue Hong panicked, but after a long moment, she calmed down and spoke.

"Do you see that?" Yue Qi pointed to the sky not far away. Xue Hong squinted and looked, only to discover a small black dot slowly approaching them.

"What is that?" Xue Hong opened her mouth, stunned. She had truly never seen anything that could fly in the sky like that, and it looked as if it were heading straight for them.

"Let me put it this way: we cannot deal with that zombie. I told you before about leader-class zombies; I fear we have just encountered one now," Yue Qi said with a bitter smile.

"What?! You're saying that is a leader-class zombie?" Xue Hong cried out, staring in disbelief at the black dot that was drawing closer.

Many people on the scene noticed Yue Qi's odd behavior, but most were so caught up in their extreme excitement that few paid him any further mind.

"Then what should we do? Flee? How long can these city walls hold against that zombie?" Even with Xue Hong's strength, she felt a sense of dread toward this unknown leader-class entity. She had once thought Yue Qi was a peerless master of the sword, but he had shown through his actions that he was an even more formidable cultivator. If even such a powerful cultivator claimed he couldn't handle this leader-class zombie, wouldn't she just be throwing her life away if she tried?

"There's no way. If Fengzhou City had a defensive array, we might have lasted a while longer, or even organized an orderly evacuation of the city!" Yue Qi waved his hand, casting a lightning formation, then spoke after a moment of thought.

"Leave this place? Wouldn't we still die?" Xue Hong could no longer remain calm, asking urgently.

"I have no choice. If there's really no other way later, I will take you and Qin Luo and flee immediately. I believe that zombie won't notice us for a while..." Yue Qi decided to fulfill the last wish of Xue Minwen before he died—to take Xue Hong away. Yet, this feeling of powerlessness made him deeply unhappy, as if he were a useless person, incapable of helping anyone.

"Leave this place..." Xue Hong murmured absentmindedly. She looked at the soldiers whose faces were flushed red from killing zombies, then thought of her father buried on the hillside. A sudden, inexplicable pain pierced her heart.

How many years had she lived here? Since she was a child, she had been here with her parents. Her father ran a martial arts school, and their life had been simple and peaceful until the disaster struck. Her mother mutated, and her father took her and a group of disciples to fight their way out, eventually saving many people and clearing the zombies from Fengzhou City.

But it was during that time that Xue Hong felt her father had changed into someone she no longer recognized. She could no longer see the smiles on his face, feel him affectionately patting her head when he saw her, or chat about daily life... All of that had vanished. Now, all Xue Hong could see was her father's brow permanently furrowed, focused on every little detail of the camp, even engaging in power struggles with the former elites... Then, suddenly, it all shattered. Her father was dead, lost so abruptly.

Two lines of tears flowed down Xue Hong's cheeks. For the first time, she felt no attachment to this place. Her father was gone; what feelings did the people remaining here have for her? Now, the only thing left was her lingering sentiment for this land.

Yue Qi had no time to worry about Xue Hong's sentimentality, for he saw that the leader-class zombie was getting closer and closer. The powerful pressure it exerted was so great that he had to expend his mental energy just to resist it!

"We are preparing to leave! You are familiar with this place, Xue Hong. Tell us later where there is a way to leave the city that isn't through the main gate!" After thinking it over, Yue Qi spoke to her urgently.

"In the General's Mansion, inside my room, there is an underground passage..." Xue Hong looked around to ensure no one was watching them before saying, "That passage leads to a mountain not far outside the city. I only told my father about it, and I don't think he told anyone else..."

"An underground passage? Another one?" Yue Qi found it strange. How did these cities, large and small, all have tunnels leading in and out? Not only was it the case in Changzhou City, but Fengzhou City as well...

"Yes. I remember Steward Liu Feng once told me that it was where the General's daughter lived before the disaster, and later, I moved in there..." Xue Hong said honestly.

"There's a tunnel there?" Yue Qi suddenly thought of something. "The tunnel we came through earlier—you dug that yourselves, right?"

Xue Hong paused, then replied, "Yes, that was just to make it convenient for us to go out. But the one in my room was already there when we arrived."

"I see! Take me there quickly!" Yue Qi was suddenly overjoyed, as if he had discovered something. He shouted to the people behind him, "Everyone stop attacking! Get back to your rooms immediately!"

This was the last thing Yue Qi could do for these people. If it turned out there was no defensive array, they might live a little longer, and perhaps some could escape safely...

Everyone was stunned. They were in the heat of battle and reluctant to put down their weapons. However, the lingering awe of Yue Qi remained in their hearts. Though confused, no one questioned him, and they soon left the walls in an orderly fashion.

By now, Xue Hong had led Yue Qi and Qin Luo to the General's Mansion. With Xue Minwen dead, the place was naturally cold and desolate. Furthermore, Yue Qi's order had sent everyone back to their rooms, so hardly a soul could be seen.

"It's here..." Xue Hong pushed her bed aside and moved a candle holder nearby. A wooden panel suddenly opened, and a cold, chilling wind blew from within.

"It really is well-hidden..." Yue Qi sighed to himself. He casually fashioned a torch and said to the two women, "Qin Luo and I will lead the way. Qin Luo, use your mental energy to see if you can sense anything related to spiritual power. Even the slightest hint will do! Xue Hong, follow closely behind us. If we don't find anything, you must take us and leave Fengzhou City immediately!"

Xue Hong nodded. Along the way, Qin Luo had told her about the defensive city array. She had been to this tunnel before, but she had never discovered anything of the sort.

The tunnel was indeed pitch black. Because it had been unused for so long, Yue Qi could even feel a powerful, chilling aura, but he chose to ignore it for the moment.

"BOOM!" Suddenly, the entire surrounding stone wall shook. Yue Qi's expression changed, and he exclaimed, "Oh no! The zombie has begun its assault on the city!"

Xue Hong had never imagined that there could be an entity capable of shaking an entire city on its own, but she had to admit that Yue Qi was right. The sensation was so intense, it felt as if an earthquake had arrived!

"Search quickly! Qin Luo, don't hold back your mental energy!" Yue Qi thought, knowing there was no time to lose.

Qin Luo nodded. Both she and Yue Qi closed their eyes. Suddenly, Xue Hong felt a powerful pressure engulfing her, so intense it made it hard to breathe!

The surrounding walls continued to tremble violently, yet Yue Qi and Qin Luo kept their eyes closed, slowly moving forward as if carefully sensing something...

Xue Hong looked anxiously toward the path that led out of the city. She had walked this route a few times; although it was long, there were no forks, and it wound directly to the hillside outside the city.

"BOOM!" Fengzhou City could no longer withstand the earth-shattering power. Countless bricks and stones rained down from above. Caught off guard, Yue Qi and Qin Luo were struck, both spitting out mouthfuls of blood. Qin Luo was jolted from her state, but Yue Qi kept pushing forward!

"Let's go! It's too late!" Xue Hong could no longer bear it. Although she didn't want to watch the city be destroyed, she clearly didn't want to see Yue Qi die here!

"Wait a little longer!" A spirit stone suddenly appeared in Yue Qi's hand. He used it to replenish his spiritual energy, then hurriedly closed his eyes again...

The tremors grew stronger. Qin Luo grew weak from the excessive expenditure of her mental energy. The leader-class zombie must be attacking the city incessantly, otherwise, it wouldn't have caused such an effect!

"BOOM!" With another strike from the zombie, the tunnel could no longer withstand the force and began to collapse. A massive boulder plummeted toward Yue Qi; there would be no surviving if it hit him!

"Brother Yue, watch out!" Xue Hong, drawing strength from somewhere, swung her twin swords, and the boulder was shattered into dust!

However, countless smaller stones pelted Yue Qi's head, causing him to spit blood again. He regained his senses, but this time, his eyes were filled with determination!

"I found it! Follow me quickly!" Yue Qi's voice was filled with excitement!